Helene -- which has strengthened to a major Category 4 hurricane -- is taking aim at Florida, where it's forecast to make landfall along the Big Bend area on Thursday night.
Hurricane Helene winds increase to 140 mph
Hurricane Helene has grown stronger as it nears landfall, with sustained winds of 140 mph.
As of 9 p.m. ET, the hurricane was 65 miles west of Cedar Key, Florida, and 90 miles south of Tallahassee.
The hurricane is moving at 24 mph and is still on track to make landfall between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.
Extreme wind warning issued for Tallahassee area
The National Weather Service issued an extreme wind warning for three cities in the Tallahassee area on Thursday night.
The warning is in effect until midnight in Perry, Madison and Monticello.
"Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!" the agency said.
Hurricane Helene in photos
As Florida is bracing for Hurricane Helene to make landfall, heavy rain and winds are battering Florida's Gulf Coast.
More than 500,000 customers without power in Florida
Over 500,000 customers have lost power across Florida in the run up to Hurricane Helene making landfall.
As of 9 p.m. ET, 545,587 customers did not have power usage, according to poweroutage.us.
Helene is expected to make landfall between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET in Florida's northeast Gulf Coast region.
Hospitals are preparing for landfall in the path of Hurricane Helene
Hospitals in the path of Hurricane Helene are preparing for the storm to make landfall.
In Florida, Tampa General Hospital said in a statement Thursday afternoon that two hospitals were closed and evacuated and other facilities were closed.
"Due to the conditions expected, and for the safety of our patients and our team members, we have closed TGH Crystal River and the TGH Crystal River Emergency Center," the Tampa General Hospital statement said. "Patients who could safely go home were discharged and patients in need of continuing care were transferred to other locations in the region. We plan to reopen on Friday, September 27, as soon as it is safe for our team members to travel."
Hospitals in the Tallahassee and Atlanta areas also said they would close in preparation for the storm.
HCA Healthcare’s Florida division website lists 12 hospitals with restrictions as of Thursday evening, including notices that it has suspended services and relocated patients to other facilities in the state from at least two hospitals: West Tampa Hospital and Pasadena Hospital.
Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, told ABC news that there have been at least six hospitals so far that have been evacuated in Florida due to Hurricane Helene.